Pushbutton switch with improved slider means for optional circuit selection



Oct. 10, 1967 s. A. WOODWARD 3,346,706 PUSHBUTTON SWIT 3 Filed July 14, 1966 CH WITH IMPROVED SLIDER MEAN FOR OPTIONAL CIRCUIT SELECTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m T N 0 INV ENTOR STEWART A. WOODWARD BYZ4%.M

ATTORNEY Oct. 10, 1967 s. A. WOODWARD PUSHBUTTON SWITCH WITH IMPROVED SLIDER MEAN PTIONAL C'IRC FOR 0 UIT SELECTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1966 WNW/ INVENTOR STEWART AVWOODWARD BY Q. M4 M ATTORNEY Oct. .10, 1967 s. A. WOODWARD 3,346,706

PUSHBUTTON SWITCH WITH IMPROVED SLIDER MEANS FOR OPTIONAL CIRCUIT SELECTION Filed July 14, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR STEWART A. WOODWARD w e w ANN MW NN cmrzjkoq ZOFEO ATTORNEY Oct 10, 1967 s. A. WOODWARD 3,346,706

PUSHBUTTON SWITCH WITH IMPROVED SLIDER MEANS FOR OPTIONAL CIRCUIT SELECTION 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 14, 1966 QVN N 523% ZQEO N LWH INVENTQR STEWART A. WOODWARD ATTORNEY 1967 s. A. WOODWARD 3,346,706

PUSHBUTTON SWITCH WITH IMPROVED SLIDER MEANS FOR OPTIONAL CIRCUIT SELECTION Filed July 14, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 E E OPTION CANCELLED BY MAKING NEW SELECTION-FINAL POSITION 24 24 INVENTOR STEWART AWOODWARD BY M ATTORNEY I United States Patent 3,346,706 PUSHBUTTON SWITCH WITH IMPRQVED SLIDER MEANS FOR OPTIONAL CIRCUIT SELECTION Stewart A. Woodward, Stratford, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed July 14, 1966, Ser. No. 565,160 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-) This invention relates generally to electrical switches, and more particularly to slider switches with a series of manually controlled pushbuttons which may be depressed to control the operation of several circuits connected through the switch.

Slider type electrical switches have been widely used by manufacturers of ranges, washing machines and other appliances to provide convenient and efiicient means for controlling the operation of the machines. As the machine designs have grown more complicated, an increased number of functions are required to be controlled by the control switch, and it has become necessary to increase the capability of the control switches to keep pace with the machine designs.

A recent innovation in washing machines is the provision of optional programs available during the regular cyclical operation of the machine. For example, one washing machine includes, in addition to the regular washing programs, at least one optional selection which can be activated during the washing programs. It is, of course, desirable to be able to control this added machine function with the general type of control switches in use today, such as the switch disclosed in my prior US. Patent No. 3,201,531, assigned to the same assignee as this application, without unduly complicating these switches, and without requiring a complete redesign of them. Additionally, it is desirable that selection of this option be made possible through the control switch without disturbing the normal programming of the machine, as preselected through the control switch, and that it be possible to override or cancel the optional selection by reselecting the original program or by selecting another regular program.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide an electrical switch capable of performing a switching operation as set forth above.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an improved slider type pushbutton switch capable of operating a normal programming cycle in a machine, while also providing at least one optional selection in addition to the normal programming cycle, the switch being efiicient' in operation and relatively inexpensive to produce.

Briefly stated, my invention in one form thereof relates to a pushbutton slider type switch including a housing and a group of sliders arranged therein for longitudinal movement in response to movement of certain pushrods mounted in the housing. The housing also supports electrical contact means including fixed and movable contact elements. The movable contact elements are disposed for actuation by cam means on the sliders as the sliders are moved in the housing.

The group of sliders in the switch includes, in accordance with the usual practice, several standard sliders movable by certain of the pushrods, denoted as standard pushrods. My invention contemplates the addition of at least one optional selection pushrod arranged to operate an optional selection slider which is disposed in the housing alongside the standard sliders. The optional selection slider is biased by a biasing spring to a first or inoperative position, and is maintained in this position during the normal programming circuit selections made through the switch by actuation of the standard pushrods. The

' for the sliders and optional selection sliders is not affected by actuation of the standard pushrods.

In accordance with this exemplification of my invention, the optional selection slider is responsive only to movement or actuation of the optional selection pushrod for movement against the biasing spring to a second position in order to complete an optional selection or circuit through the switch by camming certain movable contact elements and closing the optional circuit. The optional selection slider includes locking means for locking the optional selection pushrod in its actuated position and the optional selection slider in the second position wherein upon actuation of the optional selection pushrod the locking means will maintain the optional circuit in a closed condition until being unlocked.

In order to override or cancel the optional selection or circuit, I have provided an unlocking slider which is disposed inthe housing with the standard sliders and the optional selection slider. The unlocking slider is responsive to actuation of the optional selection pushrod for movement along with the optional selection slider to the second position. By this movement, the unlocking slider is readied for actuation by the standard pushrods. In other words, the unlocking slider is moved in response to the optional selection pushrod into position for subsequently overriding or cancelling the optional selection or circuit in response to actuation of any of the standard pushrods. The overriding function is accomplished by means on the unlocking slider which unlocks the locking means thereby allowing the biasing spring to return the optional selection slider to its first position. At this time the optional selection is cancelled.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a slider switch embodying an exemplification of my invention, the switch housing being partially broken away to illustrate a latch bar mechanism incorporated in the switch;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view corresponding to the view of FIGURE 1 with portions of the base cover of the switch broken away to illustrate the arrangement of sliders therein;

FIGURE 3 is a layout drawing showing the configuration of the several sliders of the switch illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 in a first switching position with a first standard pushrod depressed, and the relation of the sliders to the movable contact elements and to the pushrods;

FIGURES 4-6 illustrate in layout form the sequencing of certain of the sliders as the optional selection or circuit is actuated and then overridden or cancelled by remaking an original selection; and

FIGURES 7-9 illustrate in layout form the sequencing of certain of the sliders as the optional selection or circuit is actuated and then cancelled by making a new selection.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a multiple pushbutton switch 10 in which my invention has been advantageously employed. The switch 10 includes a hollow housing member 12 and a relatively thin bottom cover plate 14 which are formed of suitable insulating material and cooperate to provide a compact supporting structure manual actuating mechanism of the switch. The cover plate 14 has two oppositely disposed rows of narrow slots 16 through which terminals 18 and 20 extend in order to make circuit connections through the switch in a well known manner. The terminals 18 are away portion of the switch connected to and support fixed contacts 22 in the switch, and terminals 20 are connected to and support movable contacts or blades 24 in the switch. Further, the terminals extend through the cover plate slots 16 and include appropriate fastening tabs for fastening the cover plate on the housing.

In order to actuate switch It), the pushrods 2'6 and 28 extend through suitable openings 29 in the top wall 32 of the hollow housing 12 and into the hollow portion of the housing. Each pushrod has an enlarged rounded end portion 36 for engaging the sliders. The pushrods 26 and 28 are arranged in pairs, each pair having mounted on the outer ends thereof the pushbuttons 34, 36, 38, 4t 42, and 44. The pushrod pairs thereby act in concert to engage selected sliders in response to depression of the buttons, and by such an arrangement, a means is obtained for operating these pairs in unison to effectively control and balance the buttons during the reciprocation thereof. Detailed features of a similar switch and the general operation thereof may be better appreciated by referring to my prior US. Patent No. 3,201,531, granted Aug. 17, 1965.

In the exemplified embodiment of the switch illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, a mounting plate 46 is provided on the top wall 32 of the switch housing for mounting the switch in place in an appliance with the like. The mounting plate 46 is attached to the housing by a plurality of suitable mounting screws 43. The mounting screws 48, as well as projections 49 from top wall 32 function to provide a seat for coil springs 56 which are retained between each of the buttons 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 and the plate 46 for normally biasing the buttons and their pushrods 26 and 28 into an upper or unactuated position as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

A latch bar generally denoted by reference numeral 52 is slidably disposed between the top wall 32 of the housing and the mounting plate 46 in order to provide feel or resistance to depression of a button, and also to retain a depressed button and its pushrods in an actuated or depressed position. Thus, as will be seen in FIG- URE 1, the latch bar 52 includes a depending lug 54 which engages a small coil spring 56 seated in a recess 58 in the housing for normally biasing the latch bar 52 to the left. Further, it will be seen that the pushrods 26 and 28 of buttons 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 include a struck out or tab portion 60. The latch bar 52 includes a plurality of openings (not illustrated) corresponding to the tab portions 60 of each of these pushrods, the edge of which openings are normally in engagement with the several pushrods in the switch when the latch bar 52 is biased by the spring 56 to its normal or left position in FIGURE 1. When any of these buttons are depressed, the tab portions 60 will engage the edge of the corresponding latch bar openings, forcing the latch bar 52 to the right in FIGURE 1 against the biasing force of spring 56 until the tab portions 66 move past the latch bar, at which time the spring 56 will force the latch bar 52 back to the left thereby locking the pushrods in the depressed position. Since the springs 50 normally bias the .pushbuttons 3442 into their uppermost position, when the latch bar 52 is moved to the right in response to depression of a button, such as button 36, the latch bar will release a previously depressed button and its spring 50 will automatically force it to the uppermost position. This operation of the latch bar '52 may best be appreciated by referring to the broken housing 12 in FIGURE 1.

A plurality of sliders generally denoted by the reference numeral 64 are supported in a longitudinally extending chamber 62 in the hollow housing 12. As will be observed in FIGURE 2, the sliders are disposed in the chambers 62 in side-by-side relationship and are longitudinally movable in the chamber 62 in response to movement of certain of the pushrods in order to make and break electrical circuits through the switch. I have shown in FIG- URE 3 a layout drawing illustrating the exact configuration of the group of sliders 64, with their relation to the movable contact or blades 24 as well as their relationships to the various pairs of pushrods 26 and 28.

In the illustrated exemplification of the switch 10 embodying my invention, as shown in FIGURE 3, there are seven sliders denoted by reference numerals 66, 68, 76, 72, 74, 76, and 78 respectively. In accordance with the usual practice, the sliders 6678 are thin elongate members of insulative material, and include means in one longitudinal edge 80 thereof for contacting the pushrods 26 and 28, this means being in the form of actuating recesses generally denoted by reference numeral 82. Further, as will be readily apparent, the various sliders also include clearance recesses 83. The actuating recesses of the several sliders include inclined pushrod engaging edges 84 which are inclined so as to cause the sliders to move longitudinally in the switch housing in response to depression or actuation of certain of the pushrods as the pushrod end portions 30 engage the edges 84. The clearance recesses 83, however have only vertical edges and thus do not engage the pushrods for movement. The sliders further include means in the other longitudinal edge 86 thereof for camming the movable contact blades 24, this means being in the form of notches 88 cut out of the sliders and opening at the edge 86 with certain of the notches having raised portions 89 for engaging the blades. The camming means are designed to open and close electrical circuits through the switch by moving the movable contact blades or elements 24 .into and out of engagement with the fixed contacts 22 in response to longitudinal sliding movement of the various sliders.

I will now explain the operation of this particular switch by referring to FIGURE 3. In FIGURE 3 it will be observed that the button 34 has been actuated. The pushrod pair 26 and 28 associated with the button 34 were first moved to the innermost position wherein their end portions 30 engaged the sliders. Upon release of the button 34, the spring 50 returned the button and its pushrods 26 and 28 to the intermediate position illustrated in FIGURE 3. This position is of course governed by the previously described latch bar 52, which has been left out of FIGURE 3 for purposes of simplification. It will be observed that certain of the movable contact blades 24 are in a raised position due to engagement with raised portions 89 of the cam means, while other of the movable contact blades 24 are in a lowered position. It will be understood that the illustrated lowered contact blades are in engagement with the fixed contacts 22 thereby closing desired circuits through the switch. It will also be understood that for purposes of simplifying the illustrations of FIGURE 3, I have only shown the buttons 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44 once and also only the pushrods 26 and 28 attached to button 34 has been shown adjacent to each slider.

Turning now to a detailed description of another aspect of my invention, it will be understood that the sliders 66, 68, 70, 72 and 74 are standard sliders, or in other words are the usual operating sliders used in this type of slider type switch for controlling the movable contact blades 24. In accordance with my invention, however, I have added the two sliders 76 and 78, characterized respectively as an unlocking slider and an optional selection slider. By observing the sliders 76 and 78 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the unlocking slider 76 does not have any raised portions 89 in the longitudinal edge 86 thereof, and this slider 76 does not effect the contact blades 24 but is added only as a special slider for a purpose to be discussed more fully hereinafter. It will be appreciated that the actuating recesses 82 of unlocking slider 76 in alignment with the pushrod pairs of buttons 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 are all identical, each including an inclined working surface 90 designed to be engaged by the pushrod pairs for moving the unlocking slider 76 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3. On the other hand, the actuating recesses of slider 76 situated for 82 in alignment with the pushrod pair of means for actuating sequence of the optional moved to the left by the edges 93 into engagement contact by the pushrod pair of button 44 have inclined working edges 92 sloped oppositely from edges 90 and thus designed to move the unlocking slider 76 to the right in response to actuating the pushrod pair of button 44.

The optional selection slider 78 includes only clearance recesses 83 in alignment with the pushrods of buttons 34, 36, 38, 40 or 42, and thus slider 78 does not move in response to actuation of any of these buttons. It will be seen, however, that the slider 78 has actuating recesses button 44. These recesses are specially configured, having inclined working edges 93 extending partially along the recess, inclined so as to move the optional selection slider 78 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3 in response to actuation of the button 44. The remaining portion of the recesses 82 corresponding to the pushrod pair of button 44 comprising locking means 94 having edges 95 disposed at an angle of approximately 90 to the direction of travel of slider 78 thereby defining a locking chamber, included for a purpose to be discussed more fully hereinafter.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, a coil spring 96 is mounted between a mounting bar 98 and a projection portion 100 of the slider 78.

The mounting bar extends transversely across the slider housing 12 and is there suitably mounted. The spring 96 serves to normally bias the optional selection slider 78 to the right as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3. In this biased position of slider 78, the movable contact blade designated as blade 24a is held in a raised or open condition by the raised cam portion 89 of slider 78, while the movable contact blade designated as blade 24b is in a lower or closed condition. Since none of the other sliders in the switch includes any the contact blades 24a and 24b, these contact blades will normally be maintained in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 when the standard pushrod pairs of buttons 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 are actuated. This position is maintained during actuation of the buttons 34-42, inasmuch as the optional selection slider 78 moves only in response to movement of button 44, remaining ther wise in the biased position.

In order to understand the manner in which the optional selection and unlocking sliders 78 and 76 function in the switch, reference should now be made to FIGURES 4, 5, and 6. I have illustrated therein in layout form the selection slider 78 and the unlocking slider 76 as these two sliders are actuated in order to complete an optional selection or circuit through the switch and then actuated to cancel the optional circuit. I have illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 only sliders 76 and 78 so as to simplify the drawing and description since only these two sliders are effected by movement of the pushrod pair of the button 44 as explained above. It will be understood that I have shown the pushrod pairs of buttons 34 and 44 in simplified form in order to facilitate I an understanding of the switch operation.

In FIGURE 4 I have illustrated the optional selection slider 78 and unlocking slider 76 in their position when the button 44 has been fully depressed to actuate the optional selection. The optional selection slider 78 has interaction of the pushrod pair of button 44 with the edges 93, the spring 96 having been compressed between the projection 100 and mounting bar 98 as the biasing force thereof was overcome. Further,

by virtue of the slope of pushrod engaging edges 92 of unlocking slider 76, the unlocking slider 76 has also moved to the left in response to actuation of the button 44. At this time, the enlarged rounded end portions 30 of the button 44 pushrods 26 and 28 have moved past the with the edges 95 of locking means 94, the vertical edges 95 locking the pushrods in this position as they are forced against the enlarged ends 38 by the force of spring 96 which tends to force slider 78 to the right. The slider 78 and the button 44 pushrods 26 and 28 are thereby locked in this actuated or depressed position. Further, it will be observed that the movable locking slider 76 has of contact blade 24a has now been lowered and the movable contact blade 24b raised by the cam means 88 of slider 78 in order to complete an optional selection or circuit through the switch. At the same time the remaining contact blades 24 have not been disturbed since only sliders 76 and 78 moved in response to actuation of button 44 and these sliders do not affect the remaining contact blades. Hence, in the position of the sliders as shown in FIGURE 4, the optional selection has been actuated and the slider 78 and button 44 locked in their actuated position.

The optional circuit or selection previously made can be cancelled or overridden in one of two ways. A first manner of cancelling the option is illustrated in FIG- URES 5 and 6, and may be referred to as cancellation by remaking the original selection. Thus, when button 44 was depressed to actuate the optional circuit, the previously actuated button 34 was undisturbed, the button 34 and its pushrods remaining in the position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. FIGURE 5 illustrates the pushrod pair of button 34 as it is moved from the position of FIGURES 3 and 4 to a fully depressed position, or as this selection is remade. By this movement the end portions 30 of the button 34 pushrods immediately contact the inclined pushrod engaging edges 90 of the actuating recesses 82 of slider 76, causing the unlocking slider 76 to immediately move to the right. As the unlocking slider 76 moves to the right, the pushrod engaging edges 92, which are in engagement with the pushrods of button 44, and are sloped oppositely to edges 90, push the end portions 30 of button 44 pushrods downwardly out of the locking means 95. This position is illustrated in FIG- URE 5 as an instantaneous intermediate position. For purposes of illustration, the optional selection slider 78 hasnt started any movement to the right, while the uncourse completed a partial movement to the right in response to actuation of button 34.

. contact blade 24b lowered by the cam means the slider is biased back to its It will be appreciated, of course, that as soon as the end portion-s 30 of the pushrods pass the end of locking means 95, the spring 96 will immediately move the slider 78 to the right.

The movement of sliders 76 and 78 to their final position is illustrated in FIGURE 6. It will be understood that, as described above, the optional selection slider 78 did not move immediately in response to the movement of the pushrod pair of button 44 out of the locking means 94. However, as soon as the end portions 30 of these pushrods clear the vertical edges 95 of the locking means, the biasing spring 96, which was previously compressed when the optional selection slider 78 moved to the left, causes the slider 78 to move to the right, as viewed in FIG- URES 5 and 6. The slider 78 continues the movement to the right until it reaches its original position, and the pushrod pair of button 44 and the button itself are moved to their original position as the pushrod engaging edges 93 force the pushrods out. As seen in FIGURE 6, the 24a is now raised and the contact blade 88 of the slider 78 as final cancelled position,

it being noted that this cancelled position corresponds to the position of the contact blades 24a and 24b and the was cancelled by sliders 76 and 78 illustrated in FIGURE 3. Thus, by actuation of the button 44, an optional selection or circuit through the switch was provided without affecting any other :standard selections, and the optional selection remaking the original selection.

By referring now to FIGURES 7, 8, and 9, it will be seen that the other manner of cancelling the optional selection is by making a new selection or program through the switch rather than remaking the original selection as described in relation to FIGURES 46 above. Referring first to FIGURE 7, it will be seen that the optional selection has been made by actuation or depression of the button 44, moving the unlocking slider 76 and the 0ptional selection slider 78 to the left as described in regard to FIGURE 4 above. Further, it will be understood that the button 44- and its pushrods 26 and 28 are now locked in the actuated position by the locking means 94, with the normally open movable contact blade 24a closed and the normally closed movable contact blade 24b open. I have also illustrated in FIGURE 7 the standard slider 70 for a purpose which will be appreciated hereinafter. It will be seen in FIGURE 7 that the previously actuated button 34 and the button 36 with their respective pushrod pairs have not been affected by the actuation of the button 44.

In FIGURE 8 I have shown how the optional selection can be cancelled by making a new selection rather than by remaking the original selection as illustrated in FIG- URE above. It will be seen that the button 38 and its pushrods 26 and 28 are actuated or depressed, these pushrods engaging the aligned edges 90 of the unlocking slider 76 and forcing the slider 76 to the right. This movement of unlocking slider '76 unlocks the slider 78, button 44 and button 44 pushrods 26 and 28 as the edges 92 force the pushrods downwardly out of the locking means 94 of guide portions 82. At this time, as shown in the intermediate position in FIGURE 8, the end portions 3% of button 44 pushrods 26 and 28 are moved past the vertical edges 95. Further, actuation of button 38 causes the slider '70 to move to the left by the engagement with edges 84 of slider 79, closing the contact blade 24c and opening the contact blade 24d, thereby completing the new selec-' tion or circuit through the switch. While not specifically illustrated in the layout views of FIGURES 79, it will be appreciated that actuation of button 38 will allow the spring 50 of button 34 to return button 34 to its original position.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, the final position of the three illustrated sliders and the pushrods is shown. The spring 96 biases the slider 78 to the right after the button pushrods 26 and 28 move out of locked position past edge 95 and the button 44 and its pushrods are forced outwardly to their final position by the edges 93. Further as the slider 78 moves, contact blade 24a is opened and the blade 24!; is closed by cam means 88. When the button 38 is released, its spring 50 causes the button and its pushrods to move outwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 9' the button 38 remaining in this position until another selection is made. 1

It will be understood that the exemplified switch embodying my invention was used only for purposes of illustration, and that my invention may be used in other slider switches including more or fewer standard buttons and sliders. Further, while the switch 10 includes buttons having two pushrods associated with each button, my invention will find utility in switches of the type having only one pushrod for each button as for example, the switch illustrated in the prior U.S. Patent No. 3,091,671, issued to Philip Hutt on May 28, 1963 and assigned to the same assignee as this application. Thus, my invention enables pushbutton switches of the type generally used in the prior art to be used to provide means for simply, efliciently and economically controlling one or more optional selections or circuits through the switch, it being understood that one or more additional optional selection sliders and a corresponding number of additional pushrods may be added to a switch to provide additional optional selections, and using the one unlocking slide-r as shown and described in this application.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment which I have disclosed and described herein is intended for illustrative purposes only. I therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A pushbutton switch comprising: a housing; a plurality of pushrods movably mounted in said housing; a plurality of sliders disposed in said housing in side-by- 8 side relationship for response to movement of certain of the pushrods; contact means including a plurality of movable contacts supported by said housing, at least one of the movable contacts being operable by one of the sliders in response to movement of one of the pushrods for completing an operating circuit through the switch, said contact means including another movable contact supported in the housing and operable by another slider as it moves to a second position for closing an optional circuit through said switch; means for normally biasing said another slider to a first position, said another slider being responsive to a preselected pushrod for movement to the second position; means for locking said another slider and said preselected pushrod in the second position thereby to maintain the optional circuit in a closed condition; and an unlocking slider disposed in said housing and responsive to said one pushrod for unlocking said locking means; said biasing means acting to return said other slider to said first position thereby to eilect an opening of the optional circuit when said locking means is unlocked by said unlocking slider.

2. The pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein said unlocking slider includes means responsive to movement of said preselected pushrod for moving said unlocking slider to the second position, and means responsive to all except said preselected pushrod for unlocking said locking means.

3. The pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes, an actuating recess in a longitudinal edge of said other slider for coacting with said preselected pushrod, said recess including an edge generally perpendicular to the path of travel of said slider forming in said actuating recess a chamber for locking said preselected slider in its actuated position.

4. A pushbutton switch comprising: a housing; a plurality of pushrods mounted in said housing; a pluarlity of sliders slidably disposed in said housing for response to movement of the pushrods; contact means including a plurality of movable contacts supported by the housing, at least one of the movable contacts being operable by one of the sliders in response to actuation of a first pushrod for completing a first circuit through the switch; another of the movable contacts operable by a second of the sliders in response to actuation of a second pushrod for completing a second circuit through the switch; means for normally biasing said second slider into a first position wherein the second circuit is in an open condition, said second slider being responsive to movement of the second pushrod for movement to a second position wherein the second circuit is in a closed condition; means for locking said second slider in the second position and thereby maintaining the second circuit in the closed condition; and another of the sliders being operable in response to movement of the first pushrod and the remaining pushrods other than the second pushrod for unlocking said locking means wherein the biasing means will return the second slider to the first position thereby to effect an opening of the second circuit.

5. The pushbutton switch of claim 4 wherein said locking means includes a recess in one edge of said second slider for coating with said second pushrod, said recess including a locking chamber portion for locking said second pushrod therein when said second pushrod is moved into said chamber.

6. The pushbutton switch of claim 5 wherein said other slider includes means in one edge thereof responsive to said first and said remaining pushrods for moving said second pushrod out of said chamber.

7. In a pushbutton switch including a housing, a plurality of pushrods movably mounted in the housing, a plurality of movable contacts supported in the housing, and a plurality of sliders disposed for response to movement of certain of the pushrods, the improvement comprising: at least one of said sliders disposed in the housing for response to a preselected pushrod; spring means for biasing said one slider into a first position; said one slider including means for operating a normally open movable contact and means for engaging said preselected pushrod wherein upon actuation of the preselected pushrod said one slider will move to a second position and said operating means of said one slider will close said normally open movable contact thereby closing an optional circuit through the switch; means for locking said one slider in said second position and for locking the preselected pushrod in the actuated position; and an unlocking slider disposed in said housing, said unlocking slider including means for engaging said preselected pushrod wherein actuation of said preseletced pushrod will move said unlocking slider to the second position, and said unlocking slider including means for engaging the other of said pushrods wherein actuation of any of said other pushrods will References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,83 1,075 4/ 1958 Pomke et a1. 3,09 1,671 5/ 1963 Hutt. 3,169,173 2/ 1965 Woodward. 3,183,315 5/1965 Kiely. 3,201,513 8/ 1965 Woodward.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

move said unlocking slider to the first position thereby 15 C istant Examiner. 

1. A PUSHBUTTON SWITCH COMPRISING: A HOUSING; A PLURLAITY OF PUSHRODS MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING; A PLURALITY OF SLIDERS DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING IN SIDE-BYSIDE RELATIONSHIP FOR RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF CERTAIN OF THE PUSHRODS; CONTACT MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE CONTACTS SUPPORTED BY SAID HOUSING, AT LEAST ONE OF THE MOVABLE CONTACTS BEING OPERABLE BY ONE OF THE SLIDERS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF ONE OF THE PUSHRODS FOR COMPLETING AN OPERATING CIRCUIT THROUGH THE SWITCH, SAID CONTACT MEANS INCLUUDING ANOTHER MOVABLE CONTACT SUPPORTED IN THE HOUSING AND OPERABLE BY ANOTHER SLIDER AS IT MOVES TO A SECOND POSITION FOR CLOSING AN OPTIONAL CIRCUIT THROUGH SAID SWITCH; MEANS FOR NORMALLY BIASING SAID ANOTHER SLIDER TO A FIRST POSITION, SAID ANOTHER SLIDER BEING RESPONSIVE TO A PRESELECTED PUSHROD FOR MOVEMENT TO THE SECOND POSITION; MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID ANOTHER SLIDER AND SAID PRESELECTED PUSHROD IN THE SECOND POSITION THEREBY TO MAINTAIN THE OPTIONAL CIRCUIT IN A CLOSED CONDITION; AND AN UNLOCKING SLIDER DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING AND RESPONSIVE TO SAID ONE PUSHROD FOR UNLOCKING SAID LOCKING MEANS; SAID BIASING MEANS ACTING TO RETURN SAID OTHER SLIDER TO SAID FIRST POSITION THEREBY TO EFFECT AN OPENING OF THE OPTIONAL CIRCUIT WHEN SAID LOCKING MEANS IS UNLOCKED BY SAID UNLOCKING SLIDER. 